Q2 EPS Estimates for Caterpillar Lowered by Zacks Research

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) - Research analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q2 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Caterpillar in a report released on Thursday, July 24th. Zacks Research analyst M. Das now expects that the industrial products company will post earnings of $4.58 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $4.59. The consensus estimate for Caterpillar's current full-year earnings is $19.86 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Caterpillar's Q4 2025 earnings at $4.54 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $17.82 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $5.00 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $5.01 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $5.28 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $19.91 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $4.97 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $5.56 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $21.79 EPS.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $4.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.35 by ($0.10). The firm had revenue of $14.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.64 billion. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 53.77% and a net margin of 15.71%. The business's revenue was down 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $5.60 EPS.

CAT has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Morgan Stanley upgraded Caterpillar from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $300.00 to $283.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Bank of America upped their price target on Caterpillar from $335.00 to $385.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Baird R W raised Caterpillar from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Barclays upped their target price on Caterpillar from $335.00 to $383.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Oppenheimer upped their target price on Caterpillar from $395.00 to $483.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $419.33.

Caterpillar Price Performance

Shares of CAT traded up $4.55 on Friday, reaching $434.07. The stock had a trading volume of 2,207,764 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,516,496. The firm has a market capitalization of $204.47 billion, a PE ratio of 21.15, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $377.02 and a 200 day moving average of $351.88. Caterpillar has a twelve month low of $267.30 and a twelve month high of $434.87.

Institutional Trading of Caterpillar

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compass Financial Services Inc increased its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 49.2% during the 1st quarter. Compass Financial Services Inc now owns 94 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Family Legacy Financial Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Investment Management Corp VA ADV acquired a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Curat Global LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. 70.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Caterpillar news, Director David Maclennan purchased 375 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $320.70 per share, for a total transaction of $120,262.50. Following the acquisition, the director owned 6,653 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,133,617.10. The trade was a 5.97% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Caterpillar Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 21st will be issued a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 21st. This is an increase from Caterpillar's previous quarterly dividend of $1.41. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.39%. Caterpillar's payout ratio is 29.43%.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools.